Including Sample Location and Collection Date and Time for BioSample submissions

International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) improves utility of sequence data and sample traceability by making sample location and collection date description mandatory.

• Location of collection: Specification of where the biological sample was collected, at a minimum, by using the names for countries, oceans, or seas. Relevant attributes are, BioSample geo_loc_name and DDBJ country.
• Date and time of collection: Date and time when the specimen was collected, at least to the nearest year. Relevant attributes are, BioSample and DDBJ collection_date.

In cases where this information cannot be provided (e.g., pathogen samples for which this information would lead to identifiability of a human) or is not relevant (e.g., study of a model organism lab stock or an established cell line), you can declare an appropriate exemption using the exemption terms defined in the INSDC Missing Value Reporting Standards.

Timeline:

• By the end of May 2023, geo_loc_name and collection_date will be required in all BioSample packages.
• By the end of December 2024, country and collection_date will be required in all sequence submissions to DDBJ.

Related resources:

• INSDC spatiotemporal metadata – missing values update (03-04-2023)
• Coming Soon! Including Sample Location and Collection Date and Time for Sequences Submitted to GenBank and SRA
• ENA to introduce mandatory spatiotemporal annotations
• INSDC Missing Value Reporting Standards